We’ve got very few players on our roster now who were with us when we were in the Mountain West. So virtually the entire football team now has been recruited to play in the Pac-12. – Kyle Whittingham
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s an anniversary camp of sorts for the Utah Utes. Practice begins Thursday as the team prepares for its fifth season in the Pac-12.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the milestone at the conference’s media days last week in California.
“We’ve got very few players on our roster now who were with us when we were in the Mountain West,” Whittingham said. “So virtually the entire football team now has been recruited to play in the Pac-12.”
And things are good. Whittingham noted that the Utes are coming off a season more along the lines of what they’re used to — a 9-4 record (including a winning conference mark at 5-4) with a bowl victory.
“So we’re looking to build on that,” he said. “That’s our challenge this year.”
Prior to the season opener Sept. 3 against Michigan at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the Utes will practice 29 times — 20 in camp from Aug. 6-22 and nine once school begins Aug. 24.
Camp opens with 105 players on the roster (77 on scholarship). As always, the first five sessions will be without pads as the Utes work through the NCAA’s “acclimatization” period. The first two-a-day is set for Aug. 12 with the initial scrimmage scheduled for the next day.
Fall camp is closed to the public with the media allowed to observe the final 20 minutes of morning practices.
EXTRA POINTS: Utah returns 17 starters — seven on offense, eight on defense and kicking specialists Tom Hackett and Andy Phillips . . . Junior college transfer Cory Butler is switching positions — from defensive back to wide receiver . . . Freshman Caleb Repp has been moved from defensive end to tight end . . . Receiver Delshawn McClellon (4.37 seconds), running back Joe Williams (4.38) and cornerback Justin Thomas (4.40) were the fastest Utes in the 40 at the conclusion of summer conditioning.
Email: dirk@desnews.com
Twitter: @DirkFacer